The 53-year-old Szad was released early Friday morning from the state prison in Springfield after serving his maximum sentence. The man deemed a high risk to reoffend had been slated to live with family in Springfield, but that plan was dropped after public outcry in the community.

Corrections officials had said Szad instead would move out of state, but would not say where he was going. Later Friday morning, Shumlin issued a statement saying he was pleased arrangements had been made for Szad to live in California.